Road grader and ditcher.



No. 632.452. 'l Patented sept. 5, i899. G.F.EAHHAHT.

ROAD GRADER AND DITCHER.

(Application filed May 25, 1899.) (No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Sept. 5, |899. G. F. EARHART.

ROAD GRADER AND'DVI'CHER.`

(Application filed May 25, 1899.!

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

IOOI

Patented Sept. 5, |899. G. F. EARHART. j

RUAD GRADER AND DITCHER.

(Application filed Nay 25, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3` (No Mode.)

Hom Limo., wAsHmsou o c GEORGE F. EARHART, OF LAFAYETTE, OREGON.

ROAD GRADER AND DlTcHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 632,452, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed May 25,1899. Serial No. 718,172. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. EARHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lafayette, in the county of Yamhill and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Road Graders and Ditchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wheeled machines for grading and otherwise improving roadways, and contemplates the provision of a simple and inexpensive road grader and ditcher and one which is susceptible of ready adjustment and is highly advantageous when used for either purpose.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in Which- Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section illustrating the manner in which the main frame is adjustably supported on the rear axle. Fig. 4 is a top plan view. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken in the plane indicated by line 5 5 of Fig; 4t. Fig. (i is a detail perspective view of one of the adjustable wedges employed in conjunction with the gearing shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the hand-lever for adjusting said wedges. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section of the machine, taken in the plane of the rear axle. Fig. 9 is a detail section taken in the plane of line 9 9 of Fig. S. Fig. l0 is a broken perspective view illustrating an adjustable clutch member on the rear axle.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding partsin all of the several views, referring to which- A is the front axle, B the rear axle, and C the main frame, of the machine. The main frame preferably comprises longitudinal bars o and cross-bars connecting the same and is provided at its rear end with a platform c. At its forward end said frame is provided with a bolster` cl, which is connected to the axle A after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to enable the said axle to swing in a horizontal plane to guide the machine and the frame to rock laterally on the axle for a purpose presently described.

D is a rotary mold, the same being circular in form and made up of a hub e, a metallic rim f, connected by spokes g to the hub, and blades lz, having their lower edges pitched inwardly and sharpened, as shown, said blades being detachably connected to the rim by bolts or the like, whereby they are adapted to be readily removed for repairs or sharpening.

The hub c of the moldD is disposed below and pivotally connected to a cross-bar b of the frame C bya bolt t', which is braced and held against lateral deiiection by straps j 7c, disposed above and below the bar b, respectively, and connected to the side bars a of the frame, said straps being shown by dotted lines in ordernot to cause confusion. The bolt t' being held against lateral deliection, it follows thatthe mold, which is free to turn thereon, is held against sagging. Said mold is further held against sagging by antifriction-rollers l, which are connected to the frame-bars a and bear on an annulus fm, of sheet metal, con- VVneoted to the upper side of the spokes g, as

best shown in Fig. l.

E is an annular gear fixed to the spokes g of the mold D and surrounding the hub e thereof, and F is a vertical shaft journaled in a cross-bar it of frame U and provided at its lower end with a pinion p in mesh with the gear E and at its upper end with a mitergear fr.

Motion is transmitted from the rear axle B to the shaft F in order to rotate the mold D through the medium of a gear-wheel s, loose on the axle, a shaft t, journaled in a frame G, supported by the axle B and extending up between cross-bars of frame O, a pinion u, fixed to said shaft and intermeshed with the gearwheels, a sprocket-wheel o, also iixed on said shaft t, an endWise-movable shaft w, journaled in bearings on the frame C and bearing a sprocket-wheel and also miter-gears y e, adapted to alternately mesh with the mitergear r of shaft F, and a sprocket-chain a', taking around the sprocket-wheels o. and a and over an idler b on main frame C, the purpose of said idler being to maintain' proper tension of the chain. It follows from the foregoing that when the gear-wheel s on axle B is rotated the mold D will also be rotated to the right or left, according to which of the gearsyeis'in mesh with the gear r of shaft F.

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The rear axle B is equipped with traveling wheels I-I, which are connected thereto by spring-backed clutches I, (see Fig. 8,) and hence it will be seen that the axle will be rotated by one wheel or the other so long as the machine is in motion.

The loose gear-wheel s on the axle B is arranged against stops c thereon and has one end of its hub d toothed, as best shown in Fig. S, so as to form one member of a clutch J, the complementary member e' of which is splined on the axle and is connected to a handlever K. The said lever K is fulcrumed on the frame G and extends up through an opening in the platform o, so as to enable an attendant on said platform to disengage the clutch member e' from the hub d' of gearwheel s and thereby render the said gear-wheel loose on the axle B and stop the rotary motion of the mold D. The lever K also enables the attendant to conveniently clutch or tix the gear-wheel s to the axle B and thereby cause a resumption of the rotary movement of the mold D.

When the gear s is xed to axle B and the gear y on the endwisemovable shaft w is in mesh with the gear lron the shaft F, the mold D will be rotated toward the right, while when the gear z of the shaft w is in mesh with said gear r the mold will be rotated toward the left.

In order to enable the attendant on the platform c to determine and change the direction of the rotary movement of the mold D when desired, I provide the lever L, which isfulcrumed atits middle on frame A, wedges M, which are pivotally connected to said lever L and are interposed between the ends of the endwise-movable shaft w and stops f on the main frame, a hand-lever N, which is fulcrumed at the side of the platform c and is connected b v a link P with one end of the lever L, and a segmental rack Q, which has three seats g', h', and t" for the reception of lever N. When the lever N is in seat g', both gears y z are disengaged from gear r and no motion is transmitted to the mold D. Vhen, however, the lever N is in seat h', the gear z is in mesh with gear r and the mold D is rotated toward the left, and when said lever is in seat t" the gear y is in mesh with the gear o' and the mold is rotated toward the right.

R R (see Figs. 3, 8, and 9) are depending guide-bars connected to the longitudinal bars a of frame C and disposed in front and rear of the axle B, and S are supports which are arranged between the bars R and R and straps j', connected thereto, and bear at their lower ends on the said axle B.

T are cables which are connected to the bars R and take over pulleys U on the supports S and under pulleys V on the bars R, and W is a transverse shaft mounted in standards k', rising from the side bars a of frame C. On the shaft XV are loosely mounted hand-wheels X, to each of which is fixed a drum Y, to which the cables T are connected and upon which they are designed to be wound.

Z are brake-shoes, and A are resilient bars connected at one end to the main frame A and bearing the shoes Z. The said bars A' normally press the shoes Z against the peripheries of wheels X to prevent casual rotation of the wheels, and their free ends are designed to be depressed by the feet of the attendant when it is desired to rem ove the pressure of the shoes from the wheels and release the latter.

By turning the right-hand wheel X rearwardly the attendant on the platform cis enabled to raise the right-hand side of the main frame C and thereby incline the mold D 4in one direction, while by turning the left-hand wheel X rearwardly said attendant is enabled to raise the left-hand side of the frame C and incline the mold D in the opposite direction. The attendant is also enabled by turning the wheels X in opposite directions to simultaneously raise one side of frame C and lower the other side, this being done when it is desired to quickly cant or incline the mold D to a considerable extent. By turning both of the wheels X rearwardly at a corresponding rate of speed the rear portion of the frame C may be raised and lowered without ineliuing it laterally.

As best shown in Figs. S and 9, the axle B is arranged in loops C', which are connected to and depend from the frame C and describe a portion of a circle, the center of which is the front axle A.

When my improved machine is to be used for ditching purposes, the frame C is adjusted to carry the rear portion of the mold D nearer to the surface of the roadway than the forward portion thereof,and is also adj usted to inoline the mold downwardly to the left or downwardly to the right, as the circumstances of the case require. Said mold D is also rotated from the axle B through the medium of the gearing before described, the direction of its rotary movement being made toward the right when its right side is uppermost and toward the left when its left side is uppermost. When the rightside of the mold is uppermost and it is rotated toward the right, the dirt that is taken up by the left'side of said mold will be carried toward the right, while when the left side of the mold is uppermost and said mold is rotated toward the left the dirt that is taken up by the right side thereof will be carried toward the left.

It will be appreciated that by virtue of the mold D being rotary it is susceptible of being easily driven and is enabled to carry dirtl up a considerable incline.

Vhen it is desired to use the machine as a scraper, the main frame C is lowered to carry the rear portion of the mold D to the ground, and the gearing between the axleB and said mold is interrupted, so as to leave the latter at rest. In the position stated the mold will act after the manner of a scraper and will be found highly advantageous in leveling and smoothing roads. Vhen the mold acting as a scraper is full of dirt, it may bereadilydis- ICO IIO

charged by simply raising it, with the frame C, through the medium of the hand-wheels X.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that when in operation my improved machine is entirely under the control ot the attendant, who ordinarily stands on the platform c. It will also be appreciated that there will be but a minimum of side draft incident to the forward movement of the machine, which is an important advantage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rea-r axle, a forward axle, a main frame connected to the forward axle so as to be susceptible of lateral inclination and having depending guides at one of its sides disposed at opposite sides of the rear axle, a support resting on the rear axle and arranged between the guides, a cable connected at one end with the main frame and taking over a pulley on the support and under a pulley on one of the guides of the main frame, adevice on the main frame for taking up and paying out said cable, and suitable means for holding said device against casual movement, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame connected to the forward axle so as to be susceptible of lateral inclination and having depending guides at its opposite sides disposed at opposite sides of the rear axle, supports resting on the rear axle and arranged between the guides, cables connected at one end with the main frame and taking over pulleys on the supports and under pulleys on certain of the guides, devices on the main frame for taking up and paying out said cables, and suitable means for holding said devices against casual movement7 substantially as specified.

3. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame connected to the forward axle so as to be susceptible of lateral inclination and having depending guides at its opposite sides disposed at opposite sides of the rear axle, supports resting on the rear axle and arranged between the guides, cables connected at one end with the main frame and taking over pulleys on the supports and under pulleys on certain of the guides, hand-wheels mounted on the main frame and provided with drums to which the cables are connected and upon which they are designed to be wound, and resilient bars connected at one end to the main frame and provided with brake-shoes which they normally press against the peripheries of the hand-wheels, substantially as specified.

4. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame connected to the forward axle so as to be susceptible of both endwise and lateral inclination, a circular mold connected and movable with the main frame; said mold being disposed below and parallel to the frame, and adjustable supports for the frame arranged on the rear axle and at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the frame, substantially as specified;

5. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame adjustably supported on the rear axle and connected to the front axle so as to be susceptible of endwise and lateral inclination, a circular, rotary mold carried by and movable with the main frame, and driving connections between the rear axle and the mold for rotating the latter by the former,sub stanlially as specified.

G. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination ofa rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame adjustably supported on the rear axle and connected to the frontaxle so as to be susceptible of endwise and lateral inclimovable with the main frame, reversible gearing between the rear axle and the mold for rotating the latter in either direction by the former, and suitable means for interrupting the gearing and causing the mold to dwell, substantially as specified.

8. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame adjustably supported on the rear axle and connected to the front axle so as to be susceptible of endwise and lateral inclination, a circular, rotary mold carried by and movable with the main frame and provided with a gear-wheel,an upright shaft journaled in the main frame and having a pinion in mesh with said gear-wheel and also having a miter-gear, an endwise-movable shaft journaled in the main frame and having mitergears adapted to alternately' mesh with the miteregear of the upright shaft, gearing intermediate of the rear axle and the endwise-movable shaft, and means for adjusting said endwise-movable shaft,substantially as specified.

9. 'In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a rear axle, a forward axle, a main frame adj ustably supported on the rear axle and connected to the front axle so as to be susceptible of endwise and lateral inclination, a circular, rotary mold carried by and movable with the main frame and provided with a gear-wheel, an upright shaft journaled in the main frame and having a pinion in mesh with said gear-wheel and also having a mitergear, an endwise-movable shaft journaled in the main frame and having miter-gears adapted to alternately mesh with IOO` IIO

the miter-gear of the upright shaft, gearing intermediate of the rearaXle and the endwisemovable shaft, stops arranged on the main frame adjacent to the ends of the endwisemovable shaft, a lever L fulcrumed on the main frame, wedges connected to said lever Il and movable between the stops and the ends of the endwise-movable shaft, and a hand-lever fulcrumed on the main frame and connected with the lever Il, substantially as specified.

l0. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a main frame, a circular, rotary mold connected with the main frame and having a circular track at its upper side, and antifriotion-rollers connected to the main frame and engaging the circulartrack of the mold, substantially as specified.

ll. In afmachine for the purpose described, the combination of a main frame, a circular, rotary mold comprising acentral hub, a rim, spokes interposed between the hub and rim, a circular track arranged at the upper side of the spokes, antifriction-rollers connected to the main frame and bearing on lthe circular track, a bolt connecting the hub of the mold and a cross-bar of the frame, and braces connected to said bolt above and below the crossbar of the frame and also connected to the frame, substantially as specitied.

l2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of forward and rear axles, a main frame adjustably supported on said axles, and a circular, rotary mold disposed below and parallel to the main frame and connected and movable with said frame, substantially as specified.

13. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of a main frame, a circular, rotary mold arranged below and parallel to the main frame and connected with said frame, and antifrietion-rollers interposed between the mold and frame, substantially as speciied.

14. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination of forward and rear axles, a main frame supported thereon, and a circular, rotary mold arranged below and parallel to the main frame and connected with said frame; the said mold comprising a rim and cutting-blades detachably connected to and depending from the rim, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

GEORGE F. EARHART. lVitnesses:

W. J. WIsEcARoN, RP. BIRD. 

